Senior Wastewater Treatment Plant Operator

California Water Environment Association Inc; Fresno (CA); On-site; USD 90,000 - 120,000; Full time

Job summary

The City of Fresno is seeking a Senior Wastewater Treatment Plant Operator to lead daily operations, supervise staff, and ensure reliable, compliant treatment across the plant. A Grade III certificate and strong leadership are required.

This role offers challenging, stable work with responsibilities in process control, data reporting, and maintenance, including shift work as needed. Applicants must meet the minimum qualifications and be prepared for interview steps.

Qualifications

• Possession of a High School Diploma or equivalent GED Completion.
• AND
• Possession of a Wastewater Treatment Plant Operator Grade III Certificate issued by the State Water Resources Control Board.

Responsibilities

• Lead, train, and review staff in daily wastewater treatment operations.
• Monitor and control treatment processes using manual, automatic, and programmable systems.
• Collect and evaluate samples to ensure regulatory compliance.
• Adjust equipment based on readings from meters, gauges, and control devices.
• Maintain clean, safe, and efficient plant equipment and facilities.
• Perform routine preventive maintenance to support reliable operations.
• Document and report shift activities and operational data.

Skills

Staff leadership

Operational oversight

Education

High School Diploma or GED

Wastewater Treatment Plant Operator Grade III Certificate

Job description

OPEN UNTIL FILLED

Come join the City of Fresno in Building a Better Fresno!

Want to see what it’s like to work here? Explore our We Work For You video series to discover the real stories, passion, and purpose of the team behind Fresno’s success.

Position Description

RECRUITMENT IS OPEN UNTIL FILLED OR UNTIL A SUFFICIENT NUMBER OF APPLICATIONS HAVE BEEN RECEIVED. Recruitment may close at any time.

Step into a key leadership role that keeps essential services running for our community. As a Senior Wastewater Treatment Plant Operator, you’ll take on meaningful responsibility guiding operations, supporting staff, and ensuring reliable, compliant treatment processes across the facility. If you’re a dedicated professional with a Wastewater Treatment Plant Operator Grade III Certificate and ready to advance your career in a stable, high-impact role,

Duties may include, but are not limited to, the following:

• - Lead, train, and review staff in daily wastewater treatment operations
• - Monitor and control treatment processes using manual, automatic, and programmable systems
• - Collect and evaluate samples to ensure regulatory compliance
• - Adjust equipment based on readings from meters, gauges, and control devices
• - Maintain clean, safe, and efficient plant equipment and facilities
• - Perform routine preventive maintenance to support reliable operations
• - Document and report shift activities and operational data
• - Utilize local networks and distributed control systems to operate and monitor the facility
• - Operate related systems including secondary effluent disposal and water reclamation systems
• - Perform related duties as assigned

Duties and schedules may vary by assignment, please inquire about specific duties and/or schedules if called upon for an interview. Incumbents may be required to work any shift; overtime, nights, weekends, and holidays as needed.

Explore the job specification for additional position details.

The current vacancy exists in the Department of Public Utilities, Wastewater Management Division. Immediate and future vacancies will be filled from this eligible list for a period of three (3) months from the date the eligible list is created, with the option of extending that period at the City's discretion. If the examination process is suspended for this recruitment, the eligible list may be limited to three (3) months.

Physical Demands

The physical demands described here are representative of those that are necessary to safely, effectively, and efficiently perform the essential functions of this job with or without reasonable accommodation. This classification’s physical demands involve heavy work exerting up to 100 pounds of force occasionally with assistance, and/or up to 50 pounds of force frequently, and/or up to 20 pounds of force constantly to move objects. Additionally, the following physical demands may be required: balancing, climbing, crawling, crouching, feeling, manual dexterity, grasping, handling, hearing, kneeling, lifting, mental acuity, pulling, pushing, reaching, repetitive motion, speaking, standing, stopping, talking, visual acuity, walking.

The Requirements

Applicants must meet the minimum qualifications on or before the posted filing deadline in order to qualify for the examination and does not assure a place on the eligibility list.

• Possession of a High School Diploma or equivalent GED Completion.
• AND
• Possession of a Wastewater Treatment Plant Operator Grade III Certificate issued by the State Water Resources Control Board.

Possession and continued maintenance of a valid California Driver's License is required at time of appointment. Candidates considered for hire must provide proof of a valid driver's license and current copy of their driving record.

The selected eligible candidates certified will be required to successfully pass a department interview and a Department of Justice fingerprint prior to employment with the City of Fresno.

The Selection Process

The examination process may consist of the following:

Application review - Qualifying Only: Applications which meet the minimum qualifications will be reviewed and a limited number of the most qualified candidates will be invited to the Oral Examination. Selection of the most qualified candidates will be based upon those applications demonstrating the greatest breadth and depth of applicable education, experience, skills and training. Therefore, applicants are urged to submit sufficiently detailed information in their application materials for evaluation.

Oral Examination -100%: A panel of subject matter experts may conduct a job-related oral interview to evaluate a candidate's knowledge, skills and abilities which may include the following areas: Wastewater Operations, Process Control & Compliance, Equipment Operation & Maintenance, Leadership & Training, Interpersonal Relationships, Data Reporting & Documentation, and/ or other topics related to a candidate's training, experience and qualifications for the position.

Candidates must achieve a passing score to qualify for the eligible list.
The oral examination date is to be determined.

The City of Fresno reserves the right to amend any phase of the examination process should there be a limited number of applicants or successful candidates.